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Alternative Treatment

Alternative Treatment

Overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction requires ongoing support and commitment. From the early days of crisis intervention and detox through to the later stages of aftercare, each stage of the treatment process needs to be applied carefully. Drug addiction can be tackled in more ways than ever before, with new and innovative treatments now available alongside conventional programs. Alternative treatment programs are increasingly available in the state of Colorado, with examples including art therapy, music therapy, equine therapy, acupuncture, mindfulness and meditation, general spirituality and much more. If you need help for a drug or alcohol problem, it’s important to get professional advice as soon as possible.

What is alternative addiction treatment?

Alternative addiction treatment includes a range of treatment programs which are relatively new and unconventional. While some of these programs are based on well-known methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy and 12-step facilitation, others are based in fields such as meditation, spirituality, or fitness. An increasing number of rehab centers in Colorado and elsewhere are making these programs available for their clients, many of who are looking for a safe and effective way to treat and manage addiction problems.

Conventional Drug Addiction Treatment

Conventional drug and alcohol rehabilitation is mostly based around pharmacotherapy or behavioral therapy. Pharmacotherapy, also known as medication therapy, involves the prescription of various medications to help support the recovery process. This method of drug addiction treatment is especially important when treating physical drug addictions, including alcoholism, heroin addiction, prescription opioid addiction, and prescription sedative addiction. Behavioral therapy programs treat substance use disorders in a very different way, with therapists working with clients in an effort to change unhealthy behavioral responses. Common behavioral modalities include cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and relapse prevention.

Methods of Alternative Treatment

Alternative treatment methods are mostly based on conventional therapies, with many alternative models borrowing ideas from behavioral therapy. For example, while art therapy and music therapy offer a different approach to drug treatment, these programs are also attempting to change unhealthy behavioral responses by altering cognitive and emotional distortions. The same can be said for mindfulness programs and those based around meditation, with these programs sharing a number of similarities with conventional relapse prevention techniques. Alternative methods of medication therapy are also available from some fringe organizations, including the use of Iboga, Ayahuasca, and other psychedelic plants as a form of medicine.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is widely available in Colorado and across the United States, with this form of therapy well accepted in many rehabilitation centers. In a typical case scenario, art therapy is used to help the client communicate ideas and feelings without the use of language. This allows them to externalize problematic thoughts and feelings without having to resort to drug use. Music therapy works with a similar principle, with clients making and listening to music as a way to experience helpful emotions.

Mindfulness and Meditation

A number of alternative drug treatment programs are based around the principles of mindfulness and meditation. These programs mirror conventional relapse prevention techniques in many ways, because they help people to recognize triggers and cope with difficult life events as they arise. By learning to pay attention to sensations, feelings, and thoughts as they come into being, recovering addicts can gain the skills necessary to avoid unwanted impulsive and compulsive behavioral responses.

Find Help

It is never too late to start treatment, call your local rehabilitation center today to find help for your addiction. Find out which programs may be beneficial to you and discover a new life without drugs. Help is available.

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